JO2 Natural Cuisine Restaurant Review

: Celebrity chef Jean-Marie Josselin, who got his start in Kapaa years ago, has returned to town with JO2, a small, minimalist restaurant. Décor is similarly sleek, and manages to be sophisticated yet casual. Josselin, who also owns Tapas on the southside, is frequently in the kitchen, preparing such delicacies as Wagyu beef cheeks in an au jus, a spicy seared rack of lamb and steamed onaga. The ample pupu and salad menus --- try the crispy duck with kale --- easily transition into a meal of small plates. Beautiful presentations frame the food, which is clever and deceptively simple. A wine and saké list changes seasonally. Despite the dreary shopping center location, this is a top Kauai destination.